The arrival of the New Year brings with it renewal and a desire to create a newer, more improved version of the self. This year, as you make resolutions and set goals for the year ahead, why not work toward the deepening of your faith through the reading of scripture and Catholic literature?
These four Catholic books and publications will guide you in the deepening of your faith and making your way through them is the perfect goal for the year ahead.
Four Catholic books and publications to read this year
The Bible
The Holy Bible is, by far, the most important book on this list and the most pertinent to the lives of the faithful. Creating a time and space for daily scripture reading and Bible study is vital for keeping our hearts and minds actively engaged in the teachings of the Good Book and focused on our faith.
Reading the entire Bible in a single year is a lot, however, if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll find some excellent 365-day Bible reading plans here. If you’d like to take more time with each verse and chapter, however, why not make it your goal to read the Old Testament, the New Testament, or even the Gospels.
No matter how much of the Bible you intend to read this year, make Bible reading a priority in your day and in your faith throughout the entire year.
A book about a Saint
The Saints are all people who have been canonised by the Catholic Church and are held in high regard in the Church because of their exceptional degree of holiness and as an acknowledgment of their virtuousness within the Catholic Faith. In his book Saint of the Day, editor Leonard Foley OFM said “the Saints’ surrender to God’s love was so generous an approach to the total surrender of Jesus that the Church recognises them as heroes and heroines worthy to be held up for our inspiration. They remind us that the Church is holy, can never stop being holy and is called to show the holiness of God by living the life of Christ.”
There are several excellent books to read this year which focus on individual saints: St Francis Assisi by G.K. Chesterton, St Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox by G.K. Chesterton, and St Augustine Confessions by Henry Chadwick are all excellent books to add to your reading list for 2018.
A book written by a saint
Given their position of import within the Catholic Church, and the holiness which they embody, the Catholic saints have significant wisdom to share as it relates to living the Catholic Faith. Reading a book written by one of the Saints is an excellent path to a deepened and enriched faith.
This year, add books like: The Story of a Soul by St Therese de Lisieux, Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avila, A Simple Path by St Teresa of Calcutta, or any of the other multitude of literature written by Catholic saints, to your reading list.
A book from outside of your faith
It’s easy to surround ourselves with information, people and books which affirm our own beliefs and confirm our faith. Living within our own personal bubbles in this way, however, closes us off from the world and keeps us blind to the goings-on of life outside of the Catholic Church.
This year, step outside of your comfort zone and read a book which shares a perspective which is different from your own. The Best Yes: Making Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst, and Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead by Brene Brown, are both great books to add to your reading list this year.
Do you have any other books you think the faithful should be reading in 2018? Connect with us Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and let us know what books are on your reading list.